Tile 1881 - 1884

This tile was made in America sometime between 1877 and 1903 by the J. and J. G. Low Art Tile Works. Its Celtic knot design speaks to the cultural landscape of the late 19th century. By this period, manufacturers were eager to capitalize on the popularity of certain art and design styles. As new technologies made production more efficient, art pottery became increasingly common in middle-class homes. A tile like this speaks to the rising fashion for Celtic designs in both Europe and the United States. Motifs from the early medieval period allowed designers to attach a sense of historical authenticity to modern objects. As an art historian, I would want to investigate the market for decorative art in this period, studying the company records of firms like the J. and J. G. Low Art Tile Works, and looking at popular magazines to learn more about the dissemination of Celtic imagery. In the end, the history of art is the history of how art is used.